In its 12 years, the Santa Shoebox Project has touched the lives of 762 594 underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia.<\/p>\n
The goal for 2018 is 115 000 shoeboxes and in 2019, 125\u00a0000, enabling the project to reach its millionth child in 2019.<\/p>
Many individuals spend their 67 Minutes on Mandela Day making up Santa Shoeboxes – decorating the box and filling it with the eight required items.<\/p>\n
When pledging opens on August 1, the donor can choose their child from the online list.<\/p>
The shoeboxes are then dropped off at collection points around the country and distributed in time to bring joy to that specific child at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
This year, starting on Mandela Day (July 18), the Santa Shoebox Project is offering its busy supporters and those living too far from a drop off point, the opportunity to purchase a Virtual Santa Shoebox.<\/p>\n
Buying one of these shoeboxes is the ideal solution for donors living overseas, and for those who can\u2019t take time off to mark Mandela Day, but still want to contribute to a rural child in need.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Giving warmth this winter<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Virtual Santa Shoeboxes are made up on the donor\u2019s behalf by teams of volunteers and will be allocated to underprivileged children living in remote rural areas of South Africa.<\/p>\n Because of the lack of donors in such remote areas, these children would not receive a Santa Shoebox at all if it weren\u2019t for the donors who buy Virtual Santa Shoeboxes.<\/p>\n Every Virtual Santa Shoebox contains all eight required items \u2013 a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, a facecloth, sweets, a toy, school supplies and an outfit of clothing, as well as extra items, which include a drinking bottle and an activity booklet.<\/p>\n The items are packed into a cheerfully printed container, and affixed with a colourful label showing the child\u2019s name.<\/p>\n Four thousand Virtual Santa Shoeboxes are on offer, costing R400 each, including handling.<\/p>\n Visit the Santa Shoebox Project website to purchase your Virtual Santa Shoeboxes at www.santashoebox.org.za.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nPink Day at Supa Quick in support of breast cancer awareness<\/a><\/h4>\n